The Illinois Lottery said Monday it is entitled to a $20 million payout from Lottery private manager Northstar Lottery Group because the group fell short of the total Illinois Lottery income Northstar said would be generated in fiscal year 2012.

Noted Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones: "Northstar won the private manager contract by projecting a net income of $851.2 million in FY12, but failed to reach this goal, consequently triggering a $20 million net income shortfall to the state. Northstar missed their initial net income commitment by $94 million. Our agreement requires Northstar to be held accountable for this shortfall."

The Illinois Lottery said Northstar only managed to generate $757 million in revenue in FY12. Jones said the Lottery plans to recoup the shortfall by withholding future monthly payouts that Northstar regularly receives as part of its management fee for operating day-to-day operations of the Lottery.

Despite the issues surrounding Northstar's failure to generate the revenue it had stipulated, Jones went on to suggest he expected better days ahead for the relationship between the Lottery and private manager Northstar, which includes new management not in place when Illinois Governor Pat Quinn awarded Northstar a 10-year contract to manage the Illinois Lottery in the fall of 2010.

"We look forward to continuing to work closely with the new team at Northstar to continue the creative marketing and brand-transformation efforts over the past six to eight months that broadened the Lottery's player base and generated new sales and profits," added Jones.

Northstar is a consortium comprised of lottery industry vendors Gtech and Scientific Games. According to state Lottery officials, Northstar was paid a total of $85.1 million in management fees for FY12.

Northstar took issue with the state's demands. "The state has not shared with us its final audit, so we believe it is unfair of them to take this position," said Avis LaVelle, Northstar's vice president of corporate affairs.

Northstar Lottery Group manages the Illinois Lottery under a 10-year contract it signed in 2011. Northstar is a consortium that includes GTECH Corp., which is itself owned by Lottomatica Group and Scientific Games Corp.

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"Noted Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones: "Northstar won the private manager contract by projecting a net income of $851.2 million in FY12, but failed to reach this goal, consequently triggering a $20 million net income shortfall to the state. Northstar missed their initial net income commitment by $94 million. Our agreement requires Northstar to be held accountable for this shortfall."

Yea, shame on the state for not letting a business shortchange them for $20 Million on agreement they made beforehand. Geez, some people find anything to complain about. How miserable.

"Noted Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones: "Northstar won the private manager contract by projecting a net income of $851.2 million in FY12, but failed to reach this goal, consequently triggering a $20 million net income shortfall to the state. Northstar missed their initial net income commitment by $94 million. Our agreement requires Northstar to be held accountable for this shortfall."

Nowhere do I see the word "guaranteed". Shame on you Northstar if it's in the contract.

I'll bet the idiots in the Illinois Senate can't come within 5-10% of their "projected" annual budget. If not, SUE the state all you Illinois residents.

"Noted Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones: "Northstar won the private manager contract by projecting a net income of $851.2 million in FY12, but failed to reach this goal, consequently triggering a $20 million net income shortfall to the state. Northstar missed their initial net income commitment by $94 million. Our agreement requires Northstar to be held accountable for this shortfall."

Nowhere do I see the word "guaranteed". Shame on you Northstar if it's in the contract.

I'll bet the idiots in the Illinois Senate can't come within 5-10% of their "projected" annual budget. If not, SUE the state all you Illinois residents.

The Illinois lottery is doing what the Water Board out here in the Bay Area- California has done. The water rates have doubled- when asked why, their response was we " projected" an upturn in the local housing industry with water flowing to new houses and when that did not come to fruition, we have to pass those projected costs onto the consumer. Same thing here.However Northstar did sign on the dotted line, they on the hook.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Lottomatica S.p.A. is an Italian company active in the gaming business. The world's largest operator of lotteries[2] (its portfolio includes Italy's Lotto game), Lottomatica also provides various other gaming services and related technologies. The company has its offices in Rome. In August 2006, it completed the acquisition of Gtech, a U.S. gaming company. It is controlled with a 59.8% stake by the De Agostini group."

Hum, the 100% U.S.A. headquartered companies, who were honest by showing lower earnings potential, were passed over by Governor Quinn's advisers. Therefore, Quinn and his administration aren't a supporter to 90%+ Illinois, or even U. S. of A., owned companies! Quinn's administration should quickly end this unpatriotic (with 1/2 U.S.A. owned conglomerate) 10 year contract! [Same for national, high populace % played, Powerball and Megamillions lottery games if same, unpatriotic, HIGH management by foreigner company.]

Having several millions of dollars in my financial accounts means receiving several valuable services each day!

"Noted Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones: "Northstar won the private manager contract by projecting a net income of $851.2 million in FY12, but failed to reach this goal, consequently triggering a $20 million net income shortfall to the state. Northstar missed their initial net income commitment by $94 million. Our agreement requires Northstar to be held accountable for this shortfall."

Yea, shame on the state for not letting a business shortchange them for $20 Million on agreement they made beforehand. Geez, some people find anything to complain about. How miserable.

Yeah, just keep your mouth shut and go along with the program, right?

That's why Illinois has so many crooks in state government and in jail.